SINGAPORE - The Covid-19 pandemic might have resulted in travel restrictions, but essential goods including food continue to come into Singapore, mostly via the sea.
But the operations of these accompanying sea security teams continue as a critical operations unit of the Singapore Armed Forces, in order to deter bad actors such as terrorists and pirates. The squadron, formed in 2004 under the Maritime Security Task Force, are on standby 24 hours a day, and can conduct two to three boarding operations daily, based on indicators like voyage information, crew manifest and security records.
To motivate the crew during their shifts, he said they buy food from outside the base, such as fast food or local delicacies like tau huay, or soya beancurd, as"care packages" for them.